A Bride for Logan by Barbara Goss (free children's online books TXT) 📗

a nearby stall. “This is one of the horses we’ll be showing.”

Logan threw a saddle over the horse, and Emma mounted with his help. He couldn’t help but stare at her upon the animal. Her back was straight as a board, and she looked majestic.

“I know you’ve been riding since you were a child, but how did you get so good at it?” Logan asked her.

Emma shrugged. “I’ve always loved horses, and I rode daily. My father encouraged me, and we often raced. In public, I had to ride side-saddle, which I hated, and I would ride astride at home. I’m glad most of the women here, in Kansas, ride astride. It’s much more comfortable.”

“I’d almost forgotten you were reared in a genteel home.” Logan stroked the horse’s mane. “Well, let’s go out into the arena, shall we?”

Alan followed them and took a seat on one of the spectators' benches.

Logan showed Emma how to trot around the area, stop in front of the spectators, and turn in a circle so the viewers could see the horse from all angles. Then, he had her gallop around the arena to show the viewers how well the horse handled and how healthy it was.

Emma rode around the corral, and Logan couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked fantastic; he felt proud of her.

“What do you think, Alan?” Logan asked.

“I think you’ll sell a lot of horses.” Alan turned to Emma. “Well done.”

“So, are you both ready for tomorrow?” Logan asked.

“I’m ready,” Emma said. “This will be so much fun.”

Alan stood. “I’ll stop by an hour before the people are to arrive in case you need some help.”

Logan clapped Alan’s back. “Thank you, my friend.”

Owen greeted the arrivals and escorted them to the spectators' benches set up in the large corral. It had rained all morning, and the ranch hands had their hands full, drying all the benches and throwing straw in the corral to soak up the mud.

Logan and Alan conferred with the auctioneer and Howard Mason, the town's banker, who would be in charge of the finances. The ranch hands saddled the horses that would be up for sale.

“I can’t believe you’re selling that palomino,” Alan said, as they walked back into the stables.

“That one is trouble,” Logan said. “He’s forever fighting with the other horses. I think he’ll bring in a good price, though, because of his beauty.”

“Has Emma ever ridden him?”

“No. She rides Lady.”

“I hope she can handle him.”

Logan laughed. “She can handle any horse in this stable.”

“You’ve drawn a good crowd. The benches are full.”

“Most of them come to every auction, but I see a few strangers. I put an ad in the newspaper, posted it in town, and sent letters to my regular customers.”

“Where’s Emma?” Alan asked

“I’ll send Owen to get her. I didn’t want her to come out until all the guests had been seated.”

~~~**~~~

Emma walked out to the stables. Logan handed her up on the first horse and gave her a few last-minute suggestions. Emma nodded at each of them, and he led her horse to the corral doorway. It surprised Emma to see so many men waiting for the first horse for bidding. The auctioneer stood near the benches with a megaphone, and the banker sat at a table near the benches of eager bidders.

Logan gave her horse a gentle slap, and Emma trotted out into the corral, feeling more excited than nervous. She brought the horse to stand before the benches, turned the animal around a few times, and put the horse to a gallop before stopping in the middle of the corral to watch the bidding.

As the men bid on the horse, she scanned the crowd. She felt sick when she noticed a familiar face in the sea of people: Dallas!

Emma was nervous. She hoped she could continue with the auction despite his presence. Emma shook off her fear. Why should she be afraid? Logan and Alan wouldn’t let him hurt her. She sat up straighter and kept her chin up. She was safe.

The bidding ended, and the winner walked over to the banker’s table which was her signal to bring the horse back to the stable. As instructed, she rode to the judge’s table, and he gave her a tag. She rode the horse into the stables and gave the tag to Logan who tied it to the horse’s bridle so they'd know who had bought the horse.

Emma rode eleven more horses before the auction was over. She wanted to get away from the stables and Dallas. She needed to ask Logan if she could leave and go into the house, but he was busy with the banker, and Alan was delivering the horses to their new owners.

She shrugged and left the stables. There was no reason for her to stay. Emma had done her part. She’d gotten halfway to the house when someone grabbed her wrist. She swung around to face Dallas.

“Let go or I’ll scream,” she said.

“Does your new husband know you’re a saloon woman?”

“Yes, he does. Now, let me go." She tried to pull away, but he held her firmly.

“No one kicks or rejects Dallas and gets away with it.”

“You followed me all the way to Hunter’s Grove to get revenge for a kick you deserved?”

“I had nothing better to do, so I figured I'd follow you and settle the score. I’m not from Colorado. I was just passing through when we met. Topeka Kansas is my home.”

“I’m under my husband’s protection, so if I were you, I’d leave before he sees you.”

He squeezed her wrist so hard she gasped. “If you don’t give me what I want—and you know what that is—I’ll shoot your husband.”

Emma stared at him. Dallas didn’t know she wasn’t in